Cable-guided messenger

ABSTRACT

A messenger for use as a cable-guided tripping device has a slightly conical body portion formed with a through-going longitudinally extending radial slot in which a cable may be received. A flange extends from the body portion laterally of the slot and a gate member provided with a cutout is supported on this flange so that it can reciprocably move between two positions in which it respectively extends across and is withdrawn from the slot. A torsion spring is mounted on the flange within the confines of the cutout and bears against the gate member permanently urging it to the position extending across the slot. A latching arrangement automatically latches the gate in the withdrawn position when the gate is moved to the latter, and a manual release lever acts upon the latching arrangement and releases the same when the gate member is to be permitted to return to the position extending across the slot.

United States Patent 1191 Kahl 1 1 Sept. 4, 1973 CABLE-GUIDED MESSENGER [76] Inventor: Joseph Kahl, 3850 Hudson Manor Ter., New York, NY. 10463 221 Filed: 0ct.26,1971

21 App]. No.: 192,500

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerD. W. Keen Attorney-Michael S. Striker A messenger for use as a cable-guided tripping device has a slightly conical body portion formed with a through-going longitudinally extending radial slot in which a cable may be received. A flange extends from the body portion laterally of the slot and a gate member provided with a cutout is supported on this flange so that it can reciprocably move between two positions in which it respectively extends across and is withdrawn from the slot. A torsion spring is mounted on the flange within the confines of the cutout and bears against the gate member permanently urging it to the position extending across the slot. A latching arrangement automatically latches the gate in the withdrawn position when the gate is moved to the latter, and a manual release lever acts upon the latching arrangement and releases the same when the gate member is to be permitted to return to the position extending across the slot.

ABSTRACT 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 4 ma 3756160 sum 1 OF 2 INVENT Use; 2400 41! I //-b- ATTORNEY CABLE-GUIDED MESSENGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a messenger, and more particularly to a cable-guided messenger. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a cableguided messenger which is adapted to move along a cable in order to trip or otherwise operate instrumentalities located beneath the surface of the sea and to which the cable extends.

Cable-guided messengers of the general type here in question and for the purposes set forth above are already known. Thus, such a messenger is known from my prior US. Pat. No. 3,114,334. It is the purpose of such devices to be releasably locked to a cable extending, for instance, from onboard a ship to an instrument located beneath the surface of the sea or other body of water on which the ship floats; when it is desired to trip or otherwise act upon the instrument, the messenger is locked onto the cable and allowed to move down into the body of water along the cable under the influence of gravity. On reaching the instrument to which the cable extends, the weight of the messenger then acts upon the instrument in a suitable manner, for instance by tripping an operating lever or the like.

The construction set forth in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,114,334 is substantially advanced over what was known previous to that construction, and was found to be highly advantageous. Nevertheless, further improvements were found to be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide such further improvements.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cable-guided messenger of the type here under discussion, which is simple in its construction and highly reliable in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a messenger which can be easily slipped onto the cable with one hand.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a messenger which cannot become accidentally disengaged from the cable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a messenger which is extremely rugged and is capable of withstanding the most severe handling and operating conditions.

A concomitant object of the invention is. to provide such a messenger which is of such construction as to 'assure a descent which is. as nearly vertical as the guiding cable will permit, and which permits such descent with minimal friction relative to the cable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a messenger of the type under discussion which can be readily attached to and removed from the cable with one hand but also with the user either wearing or not wearing gloves or the like.

Still a concomitant object of the invention is to pro vide such a messenger which has a minimum number of movable parts.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such a messenger which affords positive closure of the gate member when in use.

In pursuance of the above objects and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a messenger for use as a cableguided tripping device, which messenger briefly stated comprises an elongated body portion constituting a weight and having a substantially radial cable-receiving slot extending through the longitudinal axis of the body portion parallel thereto and longitudinally coextensive therewith. A gate member is reciprocably mounted on this body portion for displacement between a first position in which it extends across the slot to slidably lock the body portion to a cable received in the slot, and a second position in which the gate member is withdrawn from the slot and the latter is exposed for insertion or removal of the cable. Biasing means permanently urges the gate member to its first position, and latching means releasably latches the gate member in the second position against movement to the first position unless and until this is specifically desired.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the messenger according to the present invention is partly disassembled condition;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the messenger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top-plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partly sectioned side-elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of FIG. 1 showing the gate in closed position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the gate in open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now FIGS. 1 6 in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral 1 identifies a body portion of the novel messenger. This body portion may have various different configurations, but in the illustrated embodiment it is generally cylindrical; it serves as a weight to assure proper gravity descent of the messenger along a cable. The body portion 1 is provided with a slot la extending substantially radially through the longitudinal axis of the body portion 1 and being coextensive with thelatter. At least one but, because of the improved stability afforded, preferably two fins. l" and l are provided on the body portion 1 at circumferentially spaced locations; as FIG. 4 shows particularly clearly, these fins are essentially wedge-shaped outline thereby aiding in giving the body portion 1 at that end where the fins are widest increased weight.

The body portion 1 is provided with a substantially plate-shaped flange lb (see, for instance FIG. 6) which may be a separate component preferably nonreleasably connected with the body portion 1, or which may be of one-piece with the body portion 1. The upper surface of this flange is coplanar with the upper surface provided by cutting away or otherwise removing one quadrant of the cross-section. of the body portion 1, so that these two upper surfaces together consti tute a guide surface on which the gate. 2 can reciprocate between a position in which it extends across the slot -1a (as in FIG. to retain a cable accommodated therein, and in position in which it is withdrawn from the slot 1a (as in FIG. 6) to permit removal of the cable from the messenger (or vice versa) or to permit connection of the messenger with the cable.

The gate 2 is, as clearly shown in the various Figures, of substantially plate-like configuration overlying the aforementioned upper guide surface and being provided with a cutout 2b. Located within the confines of this cutout is biasing means, here embodied as a torsion spring 3 a coiled portion 3a of which is slipped over a pin 3b provided on the upper surface of flange lb, whereas one arm 3c of the spring 3 engages in a hole 3d provided for this purpose in the flange lb. The other arm 3e abuts an inner edge face bounding the cutout 2b in the gate 2, thereby urging the gate 2 permanently towards the position in FIG. 5 in which it extends across and blocks the slot 1a.

An opening 2a provided in an outer margin of the gate 2 accommodates an engaging portion, advantageously in the form of a loop of suitable material or of a rim as illustrated, through which the finger of the operator may be placed in order to be able to exert requisite pull on the gate 2 so as to move it from the position of FIG. 5 counter to the action of the spring 3 to the position of FIG. 6, with the ring then having the additional purpose of preventing when the finger of an operator is placed through it accidental dropping of the messenger, e.g., into the water.

Mounted on and in effect constituting a part of the body portion In is a cover portion 4 which is secured to the body portion 1a by means of screws 8 in the illustrated embodiment, although other means are of course also suitable. On a portion of the cover portion 4 there is provided a notch 4a, and also a hole 4b. Overlying this particular portion is an angled release arm or lever 5 a hole 50 of which registers with the hole 4b. A screw 9 is threaded through the holes from above the arm 5, connecting the latter with the portion 4; the screw 9 is not tight and is surrounded by a helical biasing spring 7 which bears upon the upper side of the arm 5 and the head of the screw 9, respectively. The arm 5 can thus rock or pivot about the line where its two angled portions join, which line constitutes a fulcrum. A latching pin 6 is provided on the arm 5 extending downwardly through the slot 4a and being capable of movement upwardly through the slot for a pressure exerted on the free end of the arm 5, pivoting the latter under simultaneous raising of the other end (which carries the pin 6) and compression of the spring 7.

When the portion 4 is mounted on the body portion 1, it conceals the cutout 2b in the gate 2 as well as the spring 3 located within the confines of this cutout, at least when the gate 2 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, that is in the closing position, closing and blocking the slot. A stop pin 11, which may be a projection of one-piece with the flange lb or may be a separate pin suitably secured thereto, prevents movement of gate 2 from the position of FIG. 5 beyond the position of FIG. 6.

An edge of the gate 2 is provided with a notch 20, and an edge of the flange lb is similarly provided with a notch la. When the gate 2 is in the withdrawn position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the notches 1a and 2c are in vertical registry; the notch 40 is also in vertical registry with the notch 1a when the portion 4 is connected with the body portion 1. In this connection it should be pointed out, incidentially, that the portion 4 could also be of one-piece with the body portion 1.

The spring 3 permanently urges the gate 2 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. When it is intended to utilize the messenger on a cable, a pull is exerted on the gate 2 via the portion 10, 2 move it to the position in FIG. 6. On reaching this position the pin 6, which together with that am of the lever 5 on which it is carried, is permanently biased downwardly against the portion 4 by spring 7, snaps through the notch 20 in gate 2 (which notch was out of alignment with the notch la and notch 4a while the gate 2 was in the position shown in FIG. 5) into the notch la, thus latching the gate 2 in the open position or withdrawn position shown in FIG. 6. After the messenger is now placed onto a cable so that the latter becomes lodged in the slot 1a, the operator need merely exert pressure on the free arm of the lever 5, thereby raising the arm carrying the latching pin 6 until the latter becomes disengaged from the notches la and subsequently 20; once the lower end of the pin 6 clears the notch 20 the gate 2 is shifted by the spring 3 from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 5, extending across the slot la and preventing the messenger from becoming disconnected from the cable accommodated in this slot.

At least the sliding surfaces of the various components, that is at least the gate and the flange, are preferably coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, commercially available under the tradename TEF LON, not only to facilitate relative movement but also to prevent the so-called freezing which may be caused by chemical or bacteriological deposits on these surfaces.

In the construction according to the present invention the spring tension gate 2 is fully closed when in the position of FIG. 5, and cannot accidentally open because it is permanently urged to closed position, until manual pull is exerted on it via the portion 10. Because the body of the messenger can be made of two parts, that is the portions 1 and 4, respectively, it is very simple to produce, requiring no machining operations when made as is readily possible by suitable casting operations. When so cast, the messenger body is extremely rugged and can withstand even very rough handling.

On the other hand, the release of the latch to permit the gate 2 to move from the position of FIG. 6 to that of FIG. 5 is very simple requiring only finger pressure by an operator, whereas the latch arrangement keeps the gate 2 in open position, ready for automatic return to closed position when the latch is disengaged.

By having the spring 3 located within the cutout of the gate 2, is protected against damage and interference as well as against fouling. The release lever 5 permits operation even under diffi'cult circumstances, for instance if in cold areas the operator must wear gloves or mittens.

With the major portion of the mass of the messenger being located at the rear thereof, that is the rear seen with respect to the direction of movement of the messenger along a cable and with one and preferably two fins provided, the messenger has great stability during descent and can move vertically (to the extent permitted by the cable) because the fins tend to keep the messenger vertical due to vertical laminar flow of liquid along the fins as the messenger swiftly descends through the water. On the other hand, by keeping the messenger in such proper vertical alignment with the cable, the speed of descent is increased and the wear on the cable and the messenger is decreased. Furthermore, this increased speed assures full impact of the messenger on reaching the instrument to be triggered, that is the release bar or the like of such instrument. This assures positive impact and reliable operation, a consideration which is important because the trigger of underwater instruments is usually spring-biased to prevent unintentional release by water pressure as the instrument is lowered into the water; impact of the messenger with the full weight upon the trigger is therefore important to obtain proper operation.

The fins or wings are integral with the messenger body and cannot bend or break even under rough handling. The gate itself is protected by the flange 1b and the portion 4 against damage.

Furthermore, it will be noted that all components of the messenger which could be damaged by impact, for instance against the instrument to be triggered, are recessed from the opposite axial end faces of the body portion 1, thereby protecting them against such damage. This is particularly important if, for instance, several messengers are sent down along the same cable one after the other, if the same instrument is to be triggered repeatedly. One or both of the fins may also be provided with an aperture, for instance as shown in FIG. 4, which may be recessed from the opposite axial ends of the body 1, so that a suspension loop or ring can be secured therein. Such a loop or ring may be made of monofilament (such as fishing line) if desired, and cannot be damaged or broken even if a second messenger should impact the top surface or if the messenger should be droped with the top or bottom hitting another element, because of this recessed arrangement.

The provision of the portion in form of a loop or ring makes it particularly simple to engage and draw the gate 2 from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6 even if the user should wear gloves or mittens. However the gate may also be shaped with short extending wings at its opposite sides for grasping with gloves or mittened hands, if desired, and these wings may be so configurated as to further increase the surface area available for guidance of the descent of the messenger to thereby further help to stabilize the position thereof.

The fins and the presence of the gate provide together an anti-rolling feature so that the messenger remains in position even if the ship should be cast about on the sea, because the messenger is not sufficiently rounded to roll readily.

The gate 2 can be of relatively thick and sturdy construction, thus preventing the possibility that the messenger could become disconnected from the cable as a result of certain forces acting upon it in a sense capable of bending the gate.

When the slot is closed by the gate, as shown in FIG. 5, a wide solid gate area is presented to the ambient fluid, thus helping to keep the messenger properly aligned with respect to the cable, and minimize vibrations due to uneven contact of the messenger with the cable as it descends along the latter.

The particular design of the messenger herein disclosed permits the use of large diameter wires or cables without any necessity for redrilling of the slot la or otherwise reshaping thereof. The messenger can for instance operate on all wires or cables from a diameter of substantially three-eighth of an inch, down to as small as or smaller three thirty-seconds of an inch.

If the messenger body is made by precision casting it is particularly simple to provide a flared opening leading into the slot 1a, thus making it very easy to insert and remove the wire or cable. Because the slot 1a is relatively wide and relatively deep, a secion of the watercolumn can flow therethrough along the cable during descent of the messenger, thus also helping to stabilize the messenger, reduce vibration andecrease the resultant wear on the cable and/or the messenger. This, in turn, of course, increases the speed with which the messenger will descend along the cable.

The configuration of the messenger itself is such that it can be readily held in the palm of a hand for quick and easy attachment to the cable, and because of this and also because of the provision of the portion 10 it is not readily dropped, for instance dropped overboard or lost. The thumb of the hand may remain free, and one hand use of the messenger is possible because the thumb is employed to release the fin 6 via the lever 5, to permit automatic locking of the messenger to a cable. Because of this easy one-hand operation, the other hand of the operator can be used for holding equipment from which the messenger is suspended, for instance when instruments are attached in series to the wire or cable.

The gate 2 is self-cleaning as it slides in its positions and particularly by coating it with TEFLON, it has protection against corrosion and/or bacteriological build up when in use or in storage.

Also, a minimal number of moving parts are required, and in fact a minimum number of assembly parts (only two screws 8) are needed. By fully enclosing the spring 3, chemical corrosion or bacteriological build up is prevented from affecting the spring operation and the spring is prevented from becoming fouled and from becoming dislodged out of its operational position. Also, the possibility of anyone tempering with the spring is avoided, as is the possibility that the spring might catch on clothing or hurt the hand of the user.

Advantageously, but not necessarily, the messenger body will be made from bronze, although stainless steel is also well suited. In fact, all components of the messenger are advantageously made of either one of these materials, that is some may be made of bronze and others may be made of stainless steel, unless it is preferred to make all components of one or the other of these materials.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in cable-guided messenger construction, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, farily constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adapations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A messenger for use as a cable-guided tripping device, comprising an elongated body portion constituting a weight and having a longitudinally coextensive substantially radial cable-receiving slot; a plate-shaped gate member reciprocably mounted on said body portion for displacement between a first position in which it extends across said slot to slidably lock said body portion to a cable received in said slot, and a second position in which said gate member is withdrawn from said slot and the latter is exposed for insertion or removal of the cable; biasing means permanently urging said gate member to said first position; latching means for releasably latching said gate member in said second position against movement to said first position; and release means, including a manually engageable rockable member, operatively associated with said latching means for releasing the same in response to rocking displacement of said rockable member so as to permit movement of said gate member from said second position to said first position.

2. A messenger as defined in claim 1, said latching means comprising abutment means and detent means associated for latching cooperation with one another in automatic response to movement of said gate member from said first to said second position.

3. A messenger as defined in claim 1; and further comprising fin means provided on and projecting from said body portion.

4. A messenger as defined in claim 1; and further comprising limiting means for limiting the movement of said gate member from said first position beyond said second position.

5. A messenger, as defined in claim 1; and further comprising an engaging portion provided on said gate member for manual engagement by a user so as to facilitate displacement of said gate member from said first to said second position counter to the action of said biasing means.

6. A messenger for use as a cable-guided tripping device, comprising an elongated body portion constituting a weight and having a substantially radial cablereceiving slot extending through the longitudinal axis of said body portion parallel thereto and longitudinally coextensive therewith; a plate-shaped gate member having a cut-out and being reciprocably mounted on said body portion for displacement between a first position in which it extends across said slot to slidably lock said body portion to a cable received in said slot, and a second position in which said gate member is withdrawn from said slot and the latter is exposed for insertion or removal of the cable; biasing means permanently urging said gate member to said first position, said biasing means comprising a spring accommodated in the confines of said cut-out and being connected with said body portion and said gate member, respectively; and latching means for releasably latching said gate member in said second position against movement to said first position.

7. A messenger as defined in claim 6, said body portion comprising a substantially plate-shaped flange extending in parallelism with the path of movement of said gate member; and said gate member being slidably supported on said flange.

8. A messenger as defined in claim 7, said spring being a torsion spring having a coiled portion and a first arm connected with said flange, and a second arm including an angle with said first arm and bearing upon an edge face bounding said cut-out in said gate member.

9. A messenger as defined in claim 8; further comprising a cover portion provided on said body portion, said gate member being slidably sandwiched between said flange and said cover portion and the latter covering said cut-out at least when said gate member is in said first position thereof.

10. A messenger as defined in claim 9, wherein said cover portion is a discrete member; and further comprising securing means detachably securing said cover portion to said body portion. water column and decrease course 11. A messenger as defined in claim 7, wherein said flange is of one piece with said body portion. 

1. A messenger for use as a cable-guided tripping device, comprising an elongated body portion constituting a weight and having a longitudinally coextensive substantially radial cablereceiving slot; a plate-shaped gate member reciprocably mounted on said body portion for displacement between a first position in which it extends across said slot to slidably lock said body portion to a cable received in said slot, and a second position in which said gate member is withdrawn from said slot and the latter is exposed for insertion or removal of the cable; biasing means permanently urging said gate member to said first position; latching means for releasably latching said gate member in said second position against movement to said first position; and release means, including a manually engageable rockable member, operatively associated with said latching means for releasing the same in response to rocking displacement of said rockable member so as to permit movement of said gate member from said second position to said first position.
 2. A messenger as defined in claim 1, said latching means comprising abutment means and detent means associated for latching cooperation with one another in automatic response to movement of said gate member from said first to said second position.
 3. A messenger as defined in claim 1; and further comprising fin means provided on and projecting from said body portion.
 4. A messenger as defined in claim 1; and further comprising limiting means for limiting the movement of said gate member from said first position beyond said second position.
 5. A messenger, as defined in claim 1; and furthEr comprising an engaging portion provided on said gate member for manual engagement by a user so as to facilitate displacement of said gate member from said first to said second position counter to the action of said biasing means.
 6. A messenger for use as a cable-guided tripping device, comprising an elongated body portion constituting a weight and having a substantially radial cable-receiving slot extending through the longitudinal axis of said body portion parallel thereto and longitudinally coextensive therewith; a plate-shaped gate member having a cut-out and being reciprocably mounted on said body portion for displacement between a first position in which it extends across said slot to slidably lock said body portion to a cable received in said slot, and a second position in which said gate member is withdrawn from said slot and the latter is exposed for insertion or removal of the cable; biasing means permanently urging said gate member to said first position, said biasing means comprising a spring accommodated in the confines of said cut-out and being connected with said body portion and said gate member, respectively; and latching means for releasably latching said gate member in said second position against movement to said first position.
 7. A messenger as defined in claim 6, said body portion comprising a substantially plate-shaped flange extending in parallelism with the path of movement of said gate member; and said gate member being slidably supported on said flange.
 8. A messenger as defined in claim 7, said spring being a torsion spring having a coiled portion and a first arm connected with said flange, and a second arm including an angle with said first arm and bearing upon an edge face bounding said cut-out in said gate member.
 9. A messenger as defined in claim 8; further comprising a cover portion provided on said body portion, said gate member being slidably sandwiched between said flange and said cover portion and the latter covering said cut-out at least when said gate member is in said first position thereof.
 10. A messenger as defined in claim 9, wherein said cover portion is a discrete member; and further comprising securing means detachably securing said cover portion to said body portion. water column and decrease course
 11. A messenger as defined in claim 7, wherein said flange is of one piece with said body portion. 